Iraq reopened its embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Monday after a quarter century's rupture with its neighbor.

Syrian and Iraqi officials attended the flag-raising ceremony in the Iraqi embassy in downtown Damascus.

"We are pleased with the event, and it is an important step in political relations between the two countries," an Iraqi living in Damascus told Xinhua, who declined to be named.

Iraq and Syria severed diplomatic ties in the 1980s when Damascus sided with Tehran in the 1980-1988 Iraq-Iran war.

The two neighbors agreed to restore full diplomatic ties in November during a visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al- Muallem to Iraq, who pledged to help restore security in the war- torn country.

Syria has been accused of not doing enough to stop weapons and fighters from crossing into Iraq.

Source: Xinhua